Skip to content

Gulf Coast 4th of July Fireworks Schedules

Jun 8 21
by S. Lynne
July 4th Fireworks over the Gulf

All along the Gulf Coast, resorts and communities are gearing up to celebrate July 4th fireworks celebrations with food, music, and more. And since the fun starts on Friday, July 2, and continues through the weekend, we’ve compiled a list so you won’t miss a thing. (Unless otherwise stated, admission to all events is free.) […]

Discover Endless Fun at Destin Harbor

Jun 6 21
by S. Lynne
Aerial view of Destin Harbor, East Pass and the Gulf of Mexico

It’s home to the biggest, best-equipped fishing fleet in Florida and is the heart of Destin,  “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” And, with completion of the new boardwalk and the revitalization of HarborWalk Village, Destin Harbor is one of the hottest destinations on the Gulf Coast. Destin Harbor Boardwalk Restaurants At HarborWalk Village and all […]

Top 13 Things to do in Destin Florida

May 30 21
by S. Lynne
View of Destin Harbor from Harborwalk Village

With its white-sand beaches, glittering Gulf waters, and clear skies most days of the year, Destin is a popular spot for vacationers wanting to laze around in the sun. But for visitors looking for a more active vacation, or just a quick break from the beach, there are plenty of other fun things to do […]

Coastal Dune Lakes: Rare Treasures Along South Walton’s 30-A

May 26 21
by Alison Large Ketcham
Coastal Dune Lakes on 30a

It’s no secret that the white-sand beaches and sparkling Gulf waters along South Walton’s Highway 30-A are irresistible draws for beach-goers. And it’s safe to say that the majority of visitors who enjoy the quaint accommodations, charming shops, and outstanding eateries that give 30-A its unique character tend to return again and again. But no […]

Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin – Fish, Fun, Prizes!

May 18 21
by Celeste Bracewell
Night view of fishing boats under way during the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin

Excitement is growing for the 19th annual 2021 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin. One of the top big-game fishing tournaments in the world, this year’s competition casts off June 23 to 27 in Destin, Florida. The fabulous Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is hosting the popular sporting event with a $2 million-plus purse.  Also, […]

Summer Events at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Add Sizzle to Your Summer

May 12 21
by Lisa Milberger Moore
summer events sandestin golf and beach resort

Florida sunshine isn’t the only thing to brighten up your stay at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort this summer. The vacation hot spot features fun events all season along its gorgeous emerald coastline and Village of Baytowne Wharf – Sandestin Resort’s go-to for shopping, dining, art galleries, and play. Looking for a new cover-up? Have […]

It’s LuLuPalooza Time

May 7 21
by S. Lynne
Lulupalooza

Good food, good music, and lots of hand-clapping, head-bobbing, toe-tapping fun. That’s what to expect when the annual LuLuPalooza kicks off on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at LuLu’s Gulf Shores restaurant and marina. Under the guidance of LuLu’s owner Lucy Buffett – yes, she’s Jimmy’s sister – this popular music event regularly brings in some […]

Beaches Negril Resort & Spa… Perfectly Paradise

Apr 24 21
by Lisa Milberger Moore
couple walking on beach at beaches negril resort and spa

Seven miles of white sand beach and all-new resort rooms and suites at Beaches Negril bring you together like never before for unlimited fun that’s perfectly paradise. The waiting is over. Your nonstop luxury vacation awaits you with open arms at Beaches Negril Resort & Spa, where all-inclusive always delivers unlimited fun. Voted Trip Advisor’s […]

Hangout Music Fest Planning Star-Studded Lineup for Gulf Shores

Apr 16 21
by Lisa Milberger Moore
Hangout Festival Gulf Shores ALstage and crowd

Hangout Fest fans have jammed with some  of the hottest new artists on today’s music scene in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Past lineups for this packed three-day event have included Foo Fighters, The Killers, Lenny Kravitz, Marshmello, Beck, Travis Scott, Cardi B, and The Lumineers. Hangout Music Fest’s general admission tickets and the highly recommended three-day […]

Giddy for Graffiti

Apr 8 21
by Lisa Milberger Moore
digitally projected woman's face at Digital Graffiti in Alys Beach

One of the  most popular events on 30A is right around the corner, Digital Graffiti Festival: A Drive-Thru Experience at Alys Beach. Alys Beach gives artists from all over the world the opportunity to display their original work while competing for prize money in a juried art competition. This one-of-a-kind visual and immersive event features […]

Billy Bowlegs Festival Pirates Invade Fort Walton Beach

Mar 30 21
by S. Lynne
Billy Bowlegs Festival Pirate handing out beads to the crowd

Visitors and residents – beware! Fort Walton Beach is bracing for trouble when that infamous pirate, Captain Billy Bowlegs, and his band of merry men stage the invasion of the 65th annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival and Torchlight Parade this spring. But the resulting skirmishes should be fun, not mayhem, when Billy and his Krewe […]

Seabreeze Jazz Festival: Sea Breezes and Smooth Jazz in PCB

Mar 24 21
by S. Lynne
Saxophonist and violinist on stage at the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City Beach

Saxophonist Boney James is among the headliners for the 2021 Seabreeze Jazz Festival.   The white sands and emerald waters of  Panama City Beach are the backdrop for the 22nd annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival. The five-day festival, scheduled for April 21-25, 2021, at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater, has been named one of the Top 10 […]

Sandestin Wine Festival Promises Wine, Food, and Fun in the Sun

Feb 22 21
by S. Lynne
Sandestin Wine Festival sample bottles grouped on table

It’s almost time again to “Uncork Some Fun in the Sun” at the Sandestin Wine Festival, which celebrates its 34th anniversary in 2021. Named the “Best Annual Event” by Destin magazine, the popular festival offers wine lovers the opportunity to sample more than 500 wines from around the world. Guests also have opportunities to interact […]

The Gulf Coast is a Winter Wonderland for Cyclists

Feb 16 21
by S. Lynne
Couple enjoying a winter bike ride on Hwy 30a beaches in Florida.

Winter’s a great time for biking along the Gulf Coast in Northwest Florida and Alabama. The beach is still beautiful, the crowds have gone home, and the temperatures and rental rates have dropped. Best of all, the area offers plenty of paved bike paths that are safe as well as scenic. In fact, all of […]

Flora-Bama Polar Bear Dip: Chillin’ in the Gulf on New Year’s Day

Dec 10 20
by S. Lynne

Continuing what has become a New Year’s tradition on the coast, the Flora-Bama Lounge invites everyone to take a quick dip in the Gulf of Mexico on January 1, 2021. Scores of partiers, some in costume and others wearing nothing but their swimsuits, will gather on the beach outside the iconic roadhouse at high noon […]

Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas in Lights Dazzles Guests

Nov 19 20
by S. Lynne

More than three million lights will illuminate the skies over Bellingrath Gardens and Home as the Theodore, Alabama, estate celebrates its 26th annual Magic Christmas in Lights. The show, which starts November 27 and runs through January 3, 2021, includes more than 1,100 set pieces and 16 scenes located throughout the 65-acre property. Indeed, so […]

The Best Gumbo in Gulf Shores

Nov 10 20
by Lisa Milberger Moore
Bowl of Gumbo in Gulf Shores

With easy-peasy temperatures of the season inviting you out both day and night, taste buds are waking up to the spicier side of life. As you cruise the seashores of beautiful Gulf Shores, a piping hot bowl of gumbo is likely to hit the spot, especially with plenty of proven recipes in town. The tricky […]

Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival Spotlights Composers

Nov 4 20
by S. Lynne
FB Songwriters Festival bars of music on white paper

The Gulf of Mexico and its white-sand beaches are the backdrop every fall for the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival. Rated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, the Frank Brown festival showcases the talents of songwriters from around the world. This year, the festival opens November 11 […]

Work Remotely from the Beach with These Vacation Rentals

Oct 28 20
by Julia Sayers Gokhale
working remotely at the beach

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live, play, vacation, and, more than anything, how we work. As more and more people began working remotely, they–and their companies–realized that many jobs can be performed from anywhere. So why not work remotely from the beach?  As vacation rental companies had to adapt to a new […]

Flora-Bama Mullet Toss: Fishy Fun on Florida’s Perdido Key

Oct 13 20
by S. Lynne
Flora-Bama Mullet Toss worker talking mullet out of a blue bucket

If you think a mullet is just a bad haircut, you probably haven’t heard about the Flora-Bama Lounge’s Annual Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party. Centerpiece of this tongue-in-cheek Perdido Key event is a strange but satisfying three-day competition. It involves tossing a mullet  – a small fish that’s found in abundance in […]

Fun Outdoor Beach Activities for Kids and Adults

Oct 10 20
by Julia Sayers Gokhale
beach activities

A trip to the beach is the perfect vacation to socially distance, since it’s an outdoor destination where the main attractions are fresh air, sand, and sun. But not everyone is content to just lie on the beach all day – especially if you’re traveling with kids. With some family fun centers, attractions, shops, and […]

Find Your Peace at the Best Secluded Beaches Along the Gulf Coast

Oct 2 20
by Julia Sayers Gokhale
The best secluded beaches on Florida and Alabama's Gulf Coast

More and more people are flocking to the beach as domestic and outdoor tourism rises, which means several coastal areas are seeing an increase in visitors. While the benefit of a beach vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic is that it allows for relatively safe travel, you still don’t want to be around large crowds, even […]

Thunder Beach Bikers’ Rally Rolls into PCB Every Spring and Fall

Sep 18 20
by S. Lynne
Thunder Beach motorcycle rally biker with his dog riding behind at The Chateau in Panama City Beach

Twice a year, thousands of bikers wheel into Panama City Beach, Florida, for the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally. Held in spring (late April or early May) and fall (mid-October), the five-day event is huge, regularly featuring more than 200 vendors and exhibitors. With no gate fees, no admission charges, and no charge for parking, Thunder […]

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Boat Launches

Sep 14 20
by Lisa Milberger Moore

Fort Morgan Public Boat Launch Fort Morgan’s Public Boat Launch provides courtesy access to the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With multiple slips allowing four boats to be launched or retrieved simultaneously, boating enthusiasts can come and go with ease. Ten parking spots allow for individuals or groups to meet for a day […]

Fort Morgan: Off the Beaten Path But Worth the Trip

Sep 14 20
by S. Lynne

You don’t have to be a history buff to enjoy a trip to Fort Morgan. Located on Mobile Point, a little more than 20 miles from Gulf Shores, it’s off the beaten path but definitely worth the trip. Completed in 1834, the fort was designed to control the main ship channel into Mobile Bay, so […]

Beach Wedding Cost: Keep Your Budget on Track

Aug 26 20
by Darcie Plowden
Beach wedding setup with blue-covered white chairs and arch decorated with sand dollars

There are literally hundreds of decisions to be made when planning a wedding. The first one is deciding where you want to get married. For those of us in love with the sugar-white sands of the Gulf Coast, a beach wedding is an ideal way to personalize the celebration. And the icing on the wedding […]

Beach Wedding Checklist

Aug 25 20
by S. Lynne
Beach wedding checklist

  Both romantic and practical, beach weddings are popular with busy couples who want their big day to stand out from the crowd. The white sands and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico form a dramatic backdrop that’s guaranteed to make your wedding memorable. Other attractive Gulf Coast beach wedding venues include lush tropical […]

Discover Underwater Wonders at Navarre Beach Diving Reefs

Aug 18 20
by Chris Chatelain
Diver exploring the artificial reef in the Gulf off the coast of Navarre Beach

(Reef photos courtesy of Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary and Navarre Beach Marine Science Station.) Take a look from the balcony of your Navarre beachfront condo or from a beach chair on the sugar-white sands, and there’s no denying that Navarre Beach boasts a natural beauty that stands above most other Northwest Florida vacation destinations. But there […]

Thrilling Yet Relaxing, a Destin Dolphin Cruise Delivers on Family Fun!

Jun 15 20
by Chris Chatelain

On your next trip to Destin, why restrict all your fun to the beach? The Gulf of Mexico is home to thousands of marine creatures, and they offer plenty to explore beyond the water’s edge. But few inhabitants of the Gulf capture the imagination as well as dolphins. With their mouths curved into permanent smiles, […]

Jellyfish Facts: Safety Tips, Sting First Aid, and Fun Things To Know

May 21 20
by S. Lynne
A trio og blue-tinted moon jellyfish

Safely exhibited behind the glass of an aquarium, jellyfish, with their fluorescent colors, spots, stripes, and other markings, can be real crowd pleasers. However, a close encounter with a jellyfish in the ocean or on the beach can have painful consequences for vacationers. The good news is that these stinging nuisances, which are found abundantly […]